A shelter-in-place order issued Thursday afternoon for the District of Vanderhoof and Electoral Area F was lifted just as quickly as it was sent out following a major police response to a fatal crash.
The emergency alert was issued at approximately 2:24 p.m. at the request of Vanderhoof RCMP, instructing residents to shelter in place while officers responded to an unfolding incident.
According to the North District Major Crimes Unit, police were called to the 1500 block of Ring Road for a report of a vehicle collision.
Cpl. Jennifer Cooper said that the incident that resulted in a fatality, and RCMP took one individual into custody at the scene.
“This was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing risk to the public,” said Cpl. Cooper.
However, area residents reported seeing multiple officers throughout the district, while others took to social media claiming they had been evacuated from various locations.
Terry Keough was one of those who posted to Facebook about the experience while at the Vanderhoof Farmers’ Market.
“Police chased everyone out of the Farmers Market and Ferland Park. They told us to get blocks away. Guns drawn and assault rifles in hand. Crazy.”
Jordan Jean Sherrard was also at the market and said they saw officers move quickly through the area.
“We were just at the farmers market when police came running through, yelling, ’ Leave the park.’ I didn’t ask any questions, we left the park promptly.”
Those who were at the Vanderhoof Landfill, located at 650 Dump Road, were also told to leave, according to Jamie Davidson.
“We were told we had to leave the dump due to an active shooter,” Davidson wrote on social media.
Now, RCMP are asking for people who were in the area at the time of the incident to please check their dash cameras and residential video surveillance for any footage that may have captured the event.
This investigation is ongoing and police stated they would not be releasing further details.
The incident in Vanderhoof occurred at about the same time as a report of shots fired in a small community northwest of Fort St. James.
Police received a report of gunshots being fired near Tachie, a First Nations village along the banks of Stuart Lake, about an hour and 20 minutes north of Vanderhoof.
RCMP were able to take one suspect “safely” into custody outside a home. Police say other occupants inside the home refused to exit when directed to by officers.
RCMP say the North District Emergency Response Team was called in to assist.
Another occupant in the home was then “safely taken into custody without further incident.”
Police say there were no injuries reported.
RCMP say this investigation is ongoing and that no further information will be released at this time.